| General Description | This shrub is used often in small landscape gardens as a small specimen plant. Its fine dark green foliage can make this plant stand out from all the rest. |
| ID Characteristic | Small globe shaped shrub with dark green foliage that is fine in texture. New growth in the spring is light green and grows off the end of shoots in a ball-shaped form, this causes spring interest and makes this shrub a fine specimen. |
| Shape | Low growing globe-shaped shrub, top may flatten with age. |
| Landscape | This shrub is a good specimen in a small residential garden. Can be used as a single specimen or in a group. Very popular because of its low maintenance level and its globe shaped form. |
| Cultivation | Grown in full sun to partial-shade in slightly acidic, but well drained soil. |
| Pests | Relatively pest and disease-free, can be prone to winter spruce aphids. |
| Notable Specimens | The Gardens of Fanshawe College, London, Ontario, Canada. |
| Habitat | Horticultural origin. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Olive brown colour, usually thin with resin blisters. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description | Small 3 mm buds located only at the end of each branchlet. Brown in colour and contains an obvious amount of resin. New growth only grows at the end of branches each spring. |
| Leaf Description | Abies (Fir) needles are very soft to touch. New growth in the spring is a light green colour and old growth is dark green. These needles are generally about 4-10 mm in length and have a white line down the back center. |
| Flower Description | Only mature shrubs will flower. The flower is yellow-red and adds no ornamental value to the shrub. |
| Fruit Description | Small brown cone 3 mm in diameter, with winged seeds. Cones grow in an upward motion but are insignificant in ornamental value. |
| Colour Description | Old growth is dark green and new growth at the end of a shoot in the spring is light green. |
| Texture Description | This shrub has very soft needles and has a fine texture that appears soft. |
